THE state government is planning a new-look route for the $7 billion North West Rail Link - with additional train stations and an extension beyond Rouse Hill.

Although the project remains a priority, it will also be "developed in parallel" with the federal government's $2.1 billion Parramatta to Epping line, according to new tender documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph.

The alignment of the North West Rail Link - drawn up by the Coalition since taking the project to voters at this year's state election - reveals six new stations over a 23km route from Epping to Rouse Hill, with mega-carparks for more than 3000 commuters.

There are also two additional stations that will potentially be added to the line at Samantha Riley Drive, Kellyville and Cudgegong Rd, Rouse Hill - where the route has been extended and re-directed.

Government documents dated May 13 also include a new 16-train stabling yard in Tallawong Rd, Rouse Hill - more than 1km west of previous plans by the former Labor government.

The maps in the documents titled North West Rail Link - Engineering Rail Systems and Architecture Services reveal an intention to extend the line further than originally planned and eventually link it with the Western Line near Schofields.

"The new rail link will provide approximately 300,000 residents in the northwest with rail access to Epping, Macquarie Park, Chatswood, St Leonards, North Sydney and the CBD," the documents state.

"Bus, pedestrian and cycling access facilities will be provided at all stations, with approximately 3000 park and ride spaces proposed at Cherrybrook, Hills Centre and Kellyville stations."

There are also more than 800 new park and ride spaces planned for the two extra stations if they are built.

It is understood new stations at Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, Hills Centre, and Norwest will be underground, while Kellyville and Rouse Hill will be above ground.

Premier Barry O'Farrell yesterday said he is continuing talks directly with Prime Minister Julia Gillard regarding the funding of all Sydney's infrastructure projects. He appeared to reach a truce last month when he stopped demanding Ms Gillard shift the $2.1 billion in funds she had earmarked for the Parramatta to Epping line to his election promise to build the North West Rail Link.

There is a belief both will be built, with a compromise to be reached on specific timelines.

"We think the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link is a good project for the future and will continue to plan for its eventual completion," Mr O'Farrell said yesterday. "I've had productive talks with the Prime Minister and am hopeful an agreement can be reached, but rest assured my government's commitment to building the North West Rail Link will not waver."

Sources said last night Infrastructure Australia has also asked for all route possibilities to be examined.

"Infrastructure Australia has had a look at that project (the Parramatta to Epping) and the North West and said ... should the North West Rail Link run through Parramatta?" a senior government source said.

"The state government thinks that's complete rubbish, so there are different feelings about the route."

The documents reveal the engineering design timeline for the North West link will be finalised by next year, with the construction procurement process to take place in 2012 or 2013.

How much is NW link all up it can't surely be 2billion as its 23km of track with 2 thirds of that bored tuned, elevated sections etc , this makes CRR seem very expensive. CRR does have resumptions etc but 6 billion extra worth of resumptions?

It makes even less sense when airport link was 4 billion with the northern busway, Is someone fudging the numbers to make it more expensive?

The estimates are wrong only if the dollars won't buy what they say they will. If the government budgets for $9 billion and it costs less, well and good. If they allocate $6 billion and the boring machine gets two-thirds of the way under the river and the money runs out, then where will we be? Whatever the cost, the crucial element is that the project delivers value for money. We don't know that because the business case has not been completed. Only then will we know what financial assumptions the government has relied upon.

The CRR is still on shaky ground. The magic figure the feds hinted would be appropriate was $5 billion. A $5 billion project would have delivered a project with a high benefit-cost ratio, therefore, placing it close to the top of the bag of projects states want funded.

At $9 billion, it will be lower down the list. Remember this is a project that Queensland hopes the federal government will fund. The feds have no state allegiances. They will look at the benefit-cost-ratios and see better bang for buck in Victoria, or WA, or wherever. And place their money accordingly. Other states will offer better odds.

Queensland should be prepared to contribute half the cost of a $9 billion project, otherwise it might be back to the drawing board. And that is what Campbell Newman is suggesting with his claim that CRR is for 'ALP dreamers and schemers'. He is an engineer and knows what things cost, and I don't think he is prepared to pay $9 billion for a cross-river rail solution. His plan is to put the project into a holding pattern (with tweaks at South Bank and South Brisbane to stave off a decision) while the issue is re-examined. It may be that, even in Queensland, $9 billion could be spent better, hence his reference to 'other tracks'. Even he is looking for good benefit-cost ratios for infrastructure.

colinw

My sister, who lives close to the proposed Franklin Rd station, and works at Norwest Business Park, is very excited about this, and wonders if she might after all get to catch the train to work some time before she retires.

The Government was kite flying about a North West line when they bought at Cherrybrook back in the 1980s. 25 years on, some action at last.

I can understand why she's so happy, but still wonder how the heck this line is going to fit into the rest of Cityrail without massive problems between Chatswood & Central.

My sister, who lives close to the proposed Franklin Rd station, and works at Norwest Business Park, is very excited about this, and wonders if she might after all get to catch the train to work some time before she retires.

The Government was kite flying about a North West line when they bought at Cherrybrook back in the 1980s. 25 years on, some action at last.

I can understand why she's so happy, but still wonder how the heck this line is going to fit into the rest of Cityrail without massive problems between Chatswood & Central.

Off peak its fine, but sydney is going to need a Cross harbour rail sooner rather than later, or convert harbour bridge lanes to rail otherwise there won't be much capacity.

Sydney is to get a new suburb beside the planned North West Rail Link, the NSW government has announced.

The government has approved the rezoning of land for 2500 homes beside Rouse Hill in northwest Sydney, Planning Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters today.

The new suburb will include part of the proposed route for the North West Rail Link, giving families a chance to buy their "dream home" with the certainty of future public transport, Mr Hazzard said.Advertisement: Story continues below

"We are absolutely determined to ensure there are homes and hope for young people and others who are looking for homes in Sydney," he said.

"Sydneysiders are desperate at the moment - they want housing.

"These are 2500 home sites that are desperately needed."

The 245-hectare site, which will house about 6400 residents, should have its first houses within two years, Mr Hazzard said.

The suburb, which is yet to be named, will have a mix of low-, medium- and high-density housing, six hectares of light industrial land and 19 hectares of recreation space as well as the railway station.

Mr Hazzard expected the housing development would get under way before the railway, but he said potential buyers could be sure the government was "100 per cent committed to making sure this railway arrives".

"This development will work irrespective (of the rail line) but the rail line is coming and they (buyers) can come with confidence."

The smallest properties will be built on just 250 sq m, which Mr Hazzard conceded was small compared to most housing in Sydney.

"But the fact of the matter is 250 sq m can work beautifully," he said.

"It has worked, for example, in parts of Adelaide, where families have been able to find affordable housing, the housing they need, but not necessarily have the large tracts of land around it."

The suburb brings to 30,000 the number of new homes the government has announced since coming into office, Mr Hazzard added.

Blacktown Mayor Alan Pendleton told reporters the council and community had agreed to name the suburb Rouse Hill Gardens, but the Geographical Names Board knocked it back, saying it was too close to Rouse Hill.

"So we're back to the drawing board, but we will pursue it and come up with a name that is suitable for the area," Mr Pendleton said.

The proposed North West Rail Link in Sydney may be bankrolled largely by the private sector in a return to the public-private partnership (PPP) model of infrastructure funding.

NSW Treasurer Mike Baird says the rail link is one of many public works that could be funded via a PPP arrangement, despite the state's past disappointments with the funding model.

PPPs have been criticised especially for poor outcomes on Sydney's Cross City Tunnel and Lane Cove Tunnel.

But Mr Baird says PPPs are "back in town".

"We see them as a very important measure of actually delivering on the infrastructure backlog that we have," he told a business lunch on Wednesday.

"Certainly some of the outcomes were questionable for some of the projects but when you are using infrastructure to raise revenue for government then it's not surprising community outcomes haven't been as they should.

"We're certainly look at (PPPs) in relation to all projects, whether it be the North West Rail or road funding."

Mr Baird's comments follow Acting Premier Andrew Stoner's refusal to rule out the possibility of the rail link being run by a company other than the state-owned RailCorp.

"The only thing that is non-negotiable about the North West Rail Link is that it will be delivered on time as promised in the lead-up to the election," he told reporters on Tuesday.

Former NSW Premier Nick Greiner, who is chairman of Infrastructure NSW, is reportedly lobbying for changes to the $9 billion rail project because he believes the current plan doesn't represent good value for money.

He says NSW politicians are too scared to change the plan and has called for the rail link, planned for Sydney's northwestern suburbs, to be taken out of the RailCorp system and put in private hands.

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian has said repeatedly the new line would be an addition to the existing network.

Mr Stoner assured commuters that fares would remain consistent across the city's rail network, including the North West Rail Link.

"This will be part of that network, and the fares will be equitable right across the network, including the north west line," he said.

North West Rail Link: Transport studyBY SALLY WILLOUGHBY29 Nov, 2011 01:00 AMRESEARCH shows building the North West Rail Link is three times better for NSW than building the Parramatta to Epping rail line, Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said.

A Transport For NSW report found the benefit to cost ratio for the Parramatta to Epping Rail Line was just 0.35.

This compared to between 0.9 and 1.15 for the North West Rail Link.

The North West line was a key election promise of the Liberal state government which has sought to have federal funding of $2.1 billion redirected from the Parramatta to Epping line to the North West line.

The state government will allocate $2.5 billion to the North West line over the next four years.

The federal government has so far refused to redirect any funding.

The project's cost has been estimated at $7.5 billion to $8.5 billion.

The state government's updated estimates show the Paramatta to Epping line will cost $4.38 billion, 1.78 billion more than first expected.

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the rating shows the North West line is the "right economic priority".

"The facts speak for themselves," Ms Berejiklian said.

"The priority public transport project for the NSW government is the North West Rail Link, the federal government should get on board."

"[Transport] Minister Albanese knows our position very clearly as it has been explained to him many times."

Negative people... have a problem for every solution.Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members. Not affiliated with, paid by or in conspiracy with MTR/Metro.

AN UPDATED proposal for the North West Rail Link's Hills Centre station could preserve the Castle Hill Showground.

Two options are being considered for the station's location after community feedback supported protecting the showground site.

Detailed railway station design plans are expected to be released after July.

But Castle Hill and Hills Agricultural Society president Peter Gooch, who recently met Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian, said the northern option could see the Hills Centre station built in the vicinity of the showground's cattle rings.

A number of pavilions would also be affected.

Mr Gooch said this could effectively destroy the integrity and functionality of the showground.

Mr Gooch said a southern option, the show society's preference, would see the station and park-and-ride car park located on the soon-to-be vacated Hills council works depot site.

Admitting it was early days, Mr Gooch said this option could affect the horse arena in the long term and some pavilions during the construction phase, but have the least impact on the showground's integrity overall.

"The main aim of the showground society is to make the community aware of the possibility they may not have a showground in the future and keep the integrity of the showground so it remains functional," Mr Gooch said.

The society's preferred southern option would most likely affect the animal nursery, Country Women's Association kiosk, horticulture, cattle, cats, goats and possibly the poultry pavilions and cattle and dog lawns during the rail line's construction.

But Mr Gooch said it could be a win-win situation where the government would rebuild the facilities to the community and patrons' benefit: they could eventually catch the train to the showground.

"[The release of a second option] is a great win for the community and a credit to the government who have clearly listened to our concerns," Mr Gooch said.

A project team spokesman said both options for the Hills Centre station location were being assessed.

A total of 15 major tenders and 25 contracts have been awarded for a variety of works on Sydney’s $8.5bn North West Rail Link (NWRL) as international interest in the multi-billion dollar project gathers steam.

New South Wales premier Barry O’Farrell said the tenders and contracts awarded for major technical and professional services include planning approvals, noise and vibration expertise and land survey work.

Minister for transport Gladys Berejiklian said the government has held more than 40 sessions with organisations including tunnel contractors, civil contractors, financial institutions, railway and systems specialists.

“There has been significant international interest in this major infrastructure project from East Asia, North America and Europe, in addition to Australian organisations and contractors,” Berejiklian said.

“The interest from international firms show this is a world class infrastructure project, and reflects the NSW Government’s determination to deliver the best outcome for the local community,” O’Farrell said.

Berejiklian said substantial geotechnical and survey work is continuing right along the 23km alignment of the NWRL between Epping and Rouse Hill.

The government announced recently that it will secure an additional public transport corridor to connect from the end of the NWRL through Sydney’s booming North West Growth Centre to reduce the cost of providing transport infrastructure in the future and ensure a “better fit” between essential services such as transport and the design of town centres as well as the location of key community facilities such as schools.

The first of two Environmental Impact Statements for the NWRL will be released for public comment next month.

Negative people... have a problem for every solution.Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members. Not affiliated with, paid by or in conspiracy with MTR/Metro.

Negative people... have a problem for every solution.Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members. Not affiliated with, paid by or in conspiracy with MTR/Metro.

justanotheruser

My sister, who lives close to the proposed Franklin Rd station, and works at Norwest Business Park, is very excited about this, and wonders if she might after all get to catch the train to work some time before she retires.

The Government was kite flying about a North West line when they bought at Cherrybrook back in the 1980s. 25 years on, some action at last.

I can understand why she's so happy, but still wonder how the heck this line is going to fit into the rest of Cityrail without massive problems between Chatswood & Central.

Fair go they haven't built the chattamatta rail line yet. only half of it (chatswood to parramatta so called becasue all they did for 30 years was chat about it.) They decided to go to epping but it was too expensive to go to parramatta. So this project is moving faster!!! Yes this post is not meant to be taken seriously.

JULIA Gillard's Infrastructure Australia has formally rejected a request from the state government to fund the North West Rail Link - and suggested Barry O'Farrell put on more buses instead.

A formal response to Infrastructure NSW's submission to the federal government requesting money for the $8.5 billion link has knocked it back, saying the project is "not the highest priority" transport project for Sydney.

Infrastructure NSW had asked for the $2.1 billion promised during the 2010 federal election campaign for the Epping to Parramatta rail link to be transferred to the northwest project.

But the response from Infrastructure Australia rejects the overture.

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian has described the decision as a "complete insult" to the people of western Sydney.

"Instead of funding the rail infrastructure, western Sydney voted for, the federal government is telling them to catch a bus," Ms Berejiklian said.

Quote

Results: Today's pollShould the North West Rail Link be made a priority?

Yes 80.83% (4099 votes) No 19.17% (972 votes)

"Putting more buses on to western Sydney's congested roads is not the answer, and shows the federal Labor government is completely out of touch with families in the nation's biggest city."

In the response, IA "recognised that the transport problem in northwest Sydney needs to be addressed".

But it went on to say: "However, it is not clear that linking northwest Sydney to the CBD is the highest priority transport problem for the Sydney network". When Premier Barry O'Farrell hit office last March, his first act was to ask Prime Minister Julia Gillard to transfer the Epping to Parramatta Rail Link money to the North West Rail Link. But the Infrastructure Australia response slams the door on that option, meaning the state will have to find the entire $8 billion to build the link.

"A staged approach of building up corridor capacity to a heavy rail system over time (eg bus rapid transport as an interim step) should be considered."

The response also claims a second Harbour rail crossing is required to make the North West Rail Link work.

"The Harbour Bridge is nearly at full capacity, integration of trains from the North West Rail Link into the CBD may require other trains to terminate short of the bridge and passengers to change."

The response, penned by IA chair Michael Deegan, does not even recommend the North West Rail Link go on the Infrastructure Australia priority list even at an "early stage".

Instead, it recommends "a broader range of options be considered, in particular alternative transit solutions (busways) and links to Parramatta".

It also recommends "scenario modelling be undertaken to determine the impact of any new infrastructure on capacity constraints in the CBD".

Beaumont Hills couple Jeff and Tracey Weichandt believe their area has waited long enough for a rail network.

The couple, who have two sons Liam, 10, and Jack, 6, said the area was growing and the state and federal governments should sort something out to get the project under way: "I think for our kids as they get bigger, we need a rail network for them to get to university and into the city. The only other way really is to drive," Mrs Weichandt said.

Hmmmm, so the $2.1 billion promised to NSW sits in the IA Bank. The offer could be withdrawn so that the $2.1 billion goes back into play for reallocation to another nationally significant 'construction ready' project -- which could be CRR, or it could be a project in Melbourne or Perth.

There is a lesson here for CanDo. If offered money from the feds for CRR, will Mr Newman want the funds shifted to some other project that IA has not assessed and risk a knockback, as has happened to Mr O'Farrell? Do we then have a stalemate, with the feds wanting to thow billions at the states for vital infrastructure, yet politics prevents it being spend on effective transport outcomes?

The IA evaluation process was put in place to circumvent the politics getting in the way of sound assessment and judgement.

In effect, the Premier has taken CRR off the IA shopping list. Mr Newman needs to reveal his CRR alternative plan and have it assessed by IA, or risk Queensland being left behind when the money is doled out. Remember, new infrastructure projects take years to work up.